Ulnar Collateral Ligament Of Elbow Joint - Wikipedia

Ligament on the elbow

Ulnar collateral ligament (elbow)
Left elbow-joint, with arrows pointing at the ulnar collateral ligament
Details
From	Medial epicondyle of the humerus
To	Coronoid process of the ulna (anterior), olecranon (posterior)
Identifiers
Latin	ligamentum collaterale ulnare
MeSH	D000070637
TA98	A03.5.09.005
TA2	1776
FMA	38869
Anatomical terminology[edit on Wikidata]

The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) or internal lateral ligament is a thick triangular ligament at the medial aspect of the elbow uniting the distal aspect of the humerus to the proximal aspect of the ulna.

Structure

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It consists of two portions, an anterior and posterior united by a thinner intermediate portion. Note that this ligament is also referred to as the medial collateral ligament[1] and should not be confused with the lateral ulnar collateral ligament (LUCL).[2]

The anterior portion, directed obliquely forward, is attached, above, by its apex, to the front part of the medial epicondyle of the humerus; and, below, by its broad base to the medial margin of the coronoid process of the ulna.[3]

The posterior portion, also of triangular form, is attached, above, by its apex, to the lower and back part of the medial epicondyle; below, to the medial margin of the olecranon.

Between these two bands a few intermediate fibers descend from the medial epicondyle to blend with a transverse band which bridges across the notch between the olecranon and the coronoid process.

This ligament is in relation with the triceps brachii and flexor carpi ulnaris and the ulnar nerve, and gives origin to part of the flexor digitorum superficialis.

Injury

[edit] Main article: Ulnar collateral ligament injury of the elbow

During activities such as overhand baseball pitching, this ligament is subjected to extreme tension, which places the overhand-throwing athlete at risk for injury.[4] Acute or chronic disruption and/or attenuation of the ulnar collateral ligament often result in medial elbow pain, valgus instability, and impaired throwing performance. There are both non-surgical and surgical treatment options.[5]

Additional images

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• Elbow joint. Deep dissection. Anterior view.
• Elbow joint. Deep dissection. Anterior view.
• Anatomy of the ulnar collateral ligament in the pitcher's elbow

See also

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• Tommy John surgery

References

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This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 322 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

1. ^ "Medial Collateral Ligament of the Elbow". Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
2. ^ "Posterolateral Elbow Instability". Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
3. ^ Gray, Henry; Gray, Henry; Lewis, Warren H (1918). Anatomy of the human body. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.20311.
4. ^ Molenaars, Rik J.; Hilgersom, Nick F. J.; Doornberg, Job N.; Bekerom, Michel P. J. van den; Eygendaal, Denise (2 November 2017). "Review of Jobe et al (1986) on reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament in athletes". Journal of ISAKOS: Joint Disorders & Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3: jisakos–2017–000134. doi:10.1136/jisakos-2017-000134. ISSN 2059-7754.
5. ^ Hoffman, James K.; Protzman, Nicole M.; Malhotra, Amit D. (2015). "Biologic Augmentation of the Ulnar Collateral Ligament in the Elbow of a Professional Baseball Pitcher". Case Reports in Orthopedics. 2015: 1–5. doi:10.1155/2015/130157. ISSN 2090-6749. PMC 4512595. PMID 26240769.

v t e Joints and ligaments of the arm
Shoulder	Sternoclavicular Anterior sternoclavicular Posterior sternoclavicular Interclavicular Costoclavicular Acromioclavicular Syndesmoses: Coracoacromial Superior transverse scapular Inferior transverse of scapula Synovial: Acromioclavicular Coracoclavicular (trapezoid conoid) Glenohumeral Capsule Coracohumeral Glenohumeral (superior, middle, and inferior) Transverse humeral Glenoid labrum
Elbow	Humeroradial Radial collateral Humeroulnar Ulnar collateral Proximal radioulnar Anular Oblique cord Quadrate
Forearm	Distal radioulnar Palmar radioulnar Dorsal radioulnar Interosseous membrane of forearm
Hand	Wrist/radiocarpal Dorsal radiocarpal/Palmar radiocarpal Dorsal ulnocarpal/Palmar ulnocarpal Ulnar collateral/Radial collateral Intercarpal Midcarpal Radiate carpal Dorsal intercarpal Palmar intercarpal Interosseous intercarpal Scapholunate Pisiform joint (Pisohamate Pisometacarpal) Carpometacarpal Dorsal carpometacarpal Palmar carpometacarpal thumb: Radial collateral Ulnar collateral Intermetacarpal Deep transverse metacarpal Superficial transverse metacarpal Metacarpophalangeal Collateral Palmar Interphalangeal Collateral Palmar Other Carpal tunnel Ulnar canal

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